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March 24, 2026
窺kuī(kui1)
The character 窺 (kuī) means to peep or to spy on someone or something. It is often used in contexts where someone is secretly observing or watching, typically without the subject's knowledge. This word carries a connotation of stealth and intrusion.
Strokes16Radical穴Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese literature, the act of spying or peeping is often associated with intrigue and secretive behavior, reflecting themes found in classical stories like those of espionage in historical texts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sneaky cat peeking through a window (窗) to spy on a bird. The character 窺 combines the radical for 'window' (穴, which suggests a hiding place) with the sound 'kuī,' making it easy to remember as a secretive act of watching.
Meanings of 窺
kuī(kui1)
1to peep, to spy on, to watch
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 窺
窺Simplified
16Strokes
穴Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 窺
Podcast: 窺
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AI Study Notes for 窺
Quick Contrast
窥 (kuī) vs 观察 (guānchá) — use 窺 for secretive or stealthy observation, while 观察 implies a more open and deliberate act of watching.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sneaky cat peeking through a window (窗) to spy on a bird. The character 窺 combines the radical for 'window' (穴, which suggests a hiding place) with the sound 'kuī,' making it easy to remember as a secretive act of watching.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 窺 with other similar words like 看 (kàn), which simply means to look. 窺 is more informal and often implies a negative connotation of spying. Common collocations include 窺视 (kuīshì), meaning 'to spy on'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 窺 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be related to verbs of seeing or observing, such as 看 (kàn) and 观察 (guānchá). Students should focus on the nuances of spying versus simply looking.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese literature, the act of spying or peeping is often associated with intrigue and secretive behavior, reflecting themes found in classical stories like those of espionage in historical texts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 窺 with 看 (kàn) and use it incorrectly in formal contexts, such as saying '我想窺这本书' (I want to peep this book) instead of '我想看这本书' (I want to read this book). It's important to use 窺 only in informal, contextually appropriate situations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 窺
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Cultural Notes for 窺
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese literature, the act of spying or peeping is often associated with intrigue and secretive behavior, reflecting themes found in classical stories like those of espionage in historical texts.
Word Family of 窺
Words Containing This Character10
偷窥tōukuīto peep偷窺
窥kuīto peep窺
窥视to peep at窺視
窥探to snoop窺探
内窥镜endoscope內窺鏡
窥伺to spy upon窺伺
管窥to have a restricted view管窺
管中窥豹lit. to see a leopard through a narrow tube (idiom); fig. to miss the big picture管中窺豹
窥望to peep窺望
窥豹一斑lit. see one spot on a leopard (idiom); fig. a restricted view窺豹一斑
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 偷窥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 窺
No, 窺 is more informal and often used in contexts that suggest secretive or sneaky behavior.
Generally, 窺 has negative connotations, so it is not typically used in positive contexts.
Common phrases include 窺探 (kuītàn), meaning 'to spy out', and 窺视 (kuīshì), meaning 'to spy on'.
